HE was responsible for describing some of the most dramatic moments during motor racing’s golden era – and now Murray Walker has been voted the greatest commentator of all time.

The Birmingham-born voice of Formula 1 came out on top in a poll of sports fans to find their favourite master of the microphone.

The 86-year-old was famous for his boyish enthusiasm and occasional gaffes during a career which spanned seven decades.

Among the most famous of his slip-ups is: “Here comes Damon Hill in the Williams. This car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it, which is identical.”

Football commentary box stalwart John Motson was second and former tennis world champion John McEnroe was third.

Mr Walker retired from commentating in 2001 after spending more than 30 years as a mainstay of the BBC’s F1 team and now voices children’s cartoon Roary the Racing Car.

He has already been recognised on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars and said that coming top in a poll of 9,000 sports fans was a massive accolade.

“It is a huge honour to be recognised as the world’s best commentator, particularly against so many sporting greats,” he said. “I love what I do. I’m a car fanatic and each morning I wake up with a smile on my face, whether I’m commentating on the Formula 1 or at Silver Hatch racetrack in Roary the Racing Car.”

Mr Walker was born in Hall Green in 1923 and attended Highgate School before studying at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

He fought in the Second World War as a tank commander before juggling a role at an advertising agency where he dreamed up pet food slogans with commentating.

In 1949, he began his long association with Grand Prix racing, but it was not until the 1970s that it was widely covered on television.

He survived the BBC losing its F1 contract to ITV in 1996 after the commercial broadcaster decided to use his instantly recognisable voice.

Teamed with Martin Brundle, the pair formed a partnership which made them a success with fans of the sport across the globe.

Mr Walker announced his retirement at a tearful press conference and bowed out at the 2001 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.